Literature

After World War II the Japanese became infatuated with the thick and heavy wallet styles which American troops had on the bases in Japan. Following the war, a Japanese man who was staying with American troops taught himself how to make wallets by hand. Within months he was making wallets and belts, and trading them with American troops for American whiskey.

He was so talented at producing intricate stitches and patterns by hand, the Japanese dubbed him "The Small Hand Kid".

The two men behind Kawatako respect these early Japanese techniques in dying, cutting, and sewing leathers and have devoted their lives to the craft of leather accessories. Dying each leather piece by hand using the finest quality vegetable based dyes, their pieces show an attention to detail which reflects their years of studying early American-style Japanese leather craft from the 1940's to the 1960's.

In Japanese "kawa" means leather and "tako" means octopus. Embodying everything sturdy and versatile, Kawatako pieces are leather with soul.